APPENDIX 2 Part 2, Sites 91-186 REGISTER OF CHELMSFORD LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES KEY Highlighted LoWS Adjacent Chelmsford LoWS Adjacent LoWS (other local authority) Potential Chelmsford LoWS Sites of Special Scientific Interest ___________________________________________________________________________________ EECOS, April 2016 Chelmsford City Council Local Wildlife Sites Review 2016 Ch91 Fair Wood, Great Leighs (1.27 ha) TL 72931879 Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey® mapping by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright. Licence number AL 100020327 Fair Wood formerly extended further to the east and south, with a scattering of tall trees denoting its former extent. However, these areas have now lost their woodland character, with the LoWS now being restricted to the remaining core habitat. Within the remaining fragment, Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur) and Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) coppice dominates over a ground flora comprising Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense) and Red Campion (Silene dioica). An old rubbish dump area, formerly excluded from the LoWS has been replanted and is now incorporated into the Site. Ownership and Access The Site is assumed to lie within the ownership of the adjacent horse race track organisation and has no public access. It can be viewed from Moulsham Hall Lane. Habitats of Principal Importance in England Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland Selection Criterion HC1 Ancient Woodland Sites ___________________________________________________________________________________ EECOS, April 2016 Chelmsford City Council Local Wildlife Sites Review 2016 Rationale Documentary evidence, along with the structure and flora of the wood, suggest an ancient status for this site. Condition Statement Declining Management Issues Since the last review, this wood has undergone erosion of habitat around its margins, with conversion to a parkland style habitat with oak trees over a grass sward to the south of the entrance security hut. These areas have now been removed from the LoWS. Review Schedule Site selected: 1992 Reviewed: 2004 (reduced in size); 2016 (boundary revised) ___________________________________________________________________________________ EECOS, April 2016 Chelmsford City Council Local Wildlife Sites Review 2016 Ch92 Lyonshall Wood, Little Leighs (26.87 ha) TL 73111473 Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey® mapping by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright. Licence number AL 100020327 Lyonshall Wood is an ancient wood displaying a wide mix of tree canopy types. Coppiced Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) predominates, but other blocks with Birch (Betula sp.), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) and Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) occur. Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) is also present, although its distribution in the wood is localised. Areas towards the south of the wood have been replanted with broadleaves and conifers. Elder (Sambucus nigra) is most common as a shrub layer species, though Spindle (Euonymus europaeus) and the small Spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola) are also recorded. Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) are most frequent in the ground flora. However, the ground flora also includes several herb associated with ancient woodlands including Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Ramsons (Allium ursinum), Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina) and Wood Speedwell (Veronica montana). Ownership and Access Lyonshall wood is in private ownership and can only be viewed from public footpaths that run through part of the wood or adjacent to the northern section. Habitats of Principal Importance in England Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland ___________________________________________________________________________________ EECOS, April 2016 Chelmsford City Council Local Wildlife Sites Review 2016 Selection Criterion HC1 Ancient Woodland Sites Rationale Despite the replanting, this large ancient woodland retains important characteristics of ancient woodland especially with respect to the rich and diverse ground flora that is supports. Condition Statement Good Management Issues A resumption of coppicing would be beneficial, by increasing structural complexity. Review Schedule Site Selected: 1992 Reviewed: 2004 (minor boundary revision); 2016 ___________________________________________________________________________________ EECOS, April 2016 Chelmsford City Council Local Wildlife Sites Review 2016 Ch93 Sandylay and Moat Woods, Great Leighs (7.45 ha) TL 73321754 Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey® mapping by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright. Licence number AL 100020327 These largely ancient woods comprise a mixed canopy of coppice and standards including Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) coppice, some stools of which are of great size and age. A small piece of wood on the western boundary is recent in origin but it has evolved a woodland structure and composition that complements the adjacent ancient habitats. A rich ground flora includes Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa), Primrose (Primula vulgaris), Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Common Twayblade (Listera ovata), Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureola), Stinking Iris (Iris foetidissima) and Thin-spiked Wood-sedge (Carex strigosa). Within the woodland fungi, Russula carminipes is of particular note, as a nationally rare species. Ownership and Access This site is owned and managed by Essex Wildlife Trust and is accessible to the public. Habitats of Principal Importance in England Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland Selection Criteria HC1 Ancient Woodland Sites HC2 Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland on Non-ancient Sites ___________________________________________________________________________________ EECOS, April 2016 Chelmsford City Council Local Wildlife Sites Review 2016 Rationale Documentary evidence shows that the majority of this woodland is ancient in origin, which is supported by its structure and composition. The small piece of recent woodland provides a good quality extension to this ancient woodland. Condition Statement Good Management Issues As with many Essex woods, deer browsing is becoming an increasingly significant factor in the quality of the wood. Review Schedule Site Selected: 1992 Reviewed: 2004; 2016 ___________________________________________________________________________________ EECOS, April 2016 Chelmsford City Council Local Wildlife Sites Review 2016 Ch94 Harrow Wood, Downham (1.18 ha) TQ 73499638 Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey® mapping by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright. Licence number AL 100020327 Harrow Wood is a small fragment of broad-leaved woodland comprising mostly Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) coppice. A small amount of Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa), Field Maple (Acer campestre) and occasional Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur) standards characterise the remainder. Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) is abundant in the ground flora. These characteristics would suggest an ancient origin to this wood. Ownership and Access This site is in private ownership and consequently has no public access. It can be viewed from the adjacent roads Sudbury Road or Brock Hill. Habitats of Principal Importance in England Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland Selection Criterion HC1 Ancient Woodland Sites (If proven to not be ancient, the following criterion would still be valid: HC2 Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland on Non-ancient Sites). ___________________________________________________________________________________ EECOS, April 2016 Chelmsford City Council Local Wildlife Sites Review 2016 Rationale The presence of abundant Hornbeam coppice and Bluebells is strongly indicative of an ancient woodland site. Its structure and composition would allow it to be a LoWS under criterion HC2 if this ancient status is called into question. Condition Statement Neglected coppice. Management Issues The wood may have suffered some loss to garden encroachment from the adjacent property. A resumption of coppicing or the “storing” of stools to produce single-stemmed trees would allow more light to reach a rather impoverished ground flora. Review Schedule Site Selected: 1992 Reviewed: 2004; 2016 ___________________________________________________________________________________ EECOS, April 2016 Chelmsford City Council Local Wildlife Sites Review 2016 Ch95 Well/Hawks Woods, South Hanningfield (15.32 ha) TQ 73539709 Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey® mapping by permission of Ordnance Survey® on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright. Licence number AL 100020327 This site comprises the ancient woodland component of the Essex wildlife Trust’s nature reserve at Hanningfield Reservoir. The remainder lies within LoWS Ch78 Hanningfield Mosaic. Much of this ancient wood has been replanted in the past and now exhibits a mix of broadleaf tree interspersed with conifers, although recent management is redressing this balance in favour of a broad-leaved canopy. The broadleaved stands comprise mainly Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) coppice with Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur), Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Silver Birch (Betula pendula). Many species of interest are present in the ground flora, such as Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta),